# disadvantage

Pronunciation: US say "dis-uhd-VAN-tij" /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪd͡ʒ/; UK say "dis-uhd-VAHN-tij" /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/

## Noun

1. A weakness or undesirable feature of something; a drawback.
   - Simple: A bad or weak point that makes something less useful or less liked.
   - _Every plan carries some disadvantage you have to weigh against its benefits._
   - _The main disadvantages of the older model were its weight and its price._
2. A setback or handicap that places someone in an unfavorable position.
   - Simple: A problem that puts someone behind or makes things harder for them.
   - _The team played the second half at a disadvantage after losing a key player._
   - _Growing up without internet access can be a real disadvantage for students today._
4. Loss, detriment, or hindrance affecting one's interests.
   - Simple: Harm or loss that comes to someone or something.
   - _Signing the contract in a hurry turned out to his disadvantage._
   - _The long delay operated to the disadvantage of the entire project._

## Verb

3. To put someone or something in an unfavorable position relative to others.
   - Simple: To put someone in a worse position than others.
   - _Critics argued that the policy would disadvantage rural communities._
   - _Poor scheduling disadvantaged the workers who relied on the early shift._

## Origin

The word comes from Middle English disavauntage, which was taken from Old French desavantage.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/disadvantage (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).